Flu season hits county hard

By Gary GlancyTimes-News correspondent

Published: Sunday, December 9, 2012 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, December 7, 2012 at 9:39 p.m.

The dreaded flu has arrived in full force and earlier than expected in Western North Carolina, with local health officials saying a surge in confirmed cases during the past couple weeks could be an indicator of a potentially severe season ahead.

Facts

Get your shot

With the significant increase in flu activity, the Henderson County health department is again offering flu vaccine by appointment to individuals 6 months of age and older. There is no cost for the vaccine, but children with Medicaid are asked to bring their cards. Vaccine will be available through Thursday or until supplies are exhausted.Appointments can be made from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Monday to Thursday by calling the Public Health Hotline at 694-4040. Appointments are available from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

“All reports we're getting is that the flu activity has increased and it's above what we usually see this time of year,” said Kim Horton, public information officer for the Henderson County health department.

The health department delivered 52 doses of the flu vaccine during a mini-clinic on Thursday, Horton said, ”so I think the word has gotten out that the flu is in the county, and people are responding to that news.”

Both hospitals in the county are reporting higher-than-normal flu rates for this time of year.

Kirsten Cutler, communications manager at Park Ridge Health, said the hospital system's infection preventionist has recorded nine confirmed cases of the flu during the first week of December alone, compared to two confirmed cases in the entire month of November.

Providers in Park Ridge's family medicine practices have seen at least five confirmed cases of the flu, Cutler said, while the emergency room has also “seen an increase in (flu) cases this past week.”

Meanwhile, pediatricians in Park Ridge's primary care network have been particularly busy, with six flu-related visits reported on one particular day last week.

“So,” Cutler said, “it sounds like it's kind of flying through the school system right now.”

Meanwhile, Pardee Hospital treated close to two dozen confirmed flu cases as of Thursday, according to a news release, which is high for this time of year. Hospital officials are asking people not to visit patients in the hospital unless they are next of kin or their closest contact, and not to bring teenagers and children.

Horton said the health department hopes people will take the spread of the virus seriously and protect themselves — and, therefore, others as well — by getting a flu shot. Since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for people to develop peak protective antibody levels, according to the health department, it is essential to be vaccinated as soon as possible.

“It's even more important now with families getting together over the holidays, and the likelihood of the virus spreading is greater just because of that,” Horton said. “So right now is a great time to get (the vaccine), and we want to emphasize that it's not too late to get the flu shot because the flu season usually peaks in February and it can last as long as May, so you want to be protected.”

The state health department has reported three flu-related deaths in North Carolina already this season, and the percentage of flu-related doctor's visits statewide continues to trend upward since the flu season began in October.

According to a news release from the county health department Friday, people at high risk for developing serious flu complications include children younger than 5 years, people 65 years of age and older, pregnant women and people with certain long-term medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions, blood disorders, morbid obesity, kidney and liver disorders, HIV or AIDS and cancer.

Even unvaccinated people who have already gotten sick from a flu virus can benefit from vaccination since the flu vaccine protects against three different flu viruses, the release states. The Center for Disease Control recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against influenza disease.

<p>The dreaded flu has arrived in full force and earlier than expected in Western North Carolina, with local health officials saying a surge in confirmed cases during the past couple weeks could be an indicator of a potentially severe season ahead.</p><p>“All reports we're getting is that the flu activity has increased and it's above what we usually see this time of year,” said Kim Horton, public information officer for the Henderson County health department.</p><p>The health department delivered 52 doses of the flu vaccine during a mini-clinic on Thursday, Horton said, ”so I think the word has gotten out that the flu is in the county, and people are responding to that news.”</p><p>Both hospitals in the county are reporting higher-than-normal flu rates for this time of year.</p><p>Kirsten Cutler, communications manager at Park Ridge Health, said the hospital system's infection preventionist has recorded nine confirmed cases of the flu during the first week of December alone, compared to two confirmed cases in the entire month of November. </p><p>Providers in Park Ridge's family medicine practices have seen at least five confirmed cases of the flu, Cutler said, while the emergency room has also “seen an increase in (flu) cases this past week.”</p><p>Meanwhile, pediatricians in Park Ridge's primary care network have been particularly busy, with six flu-related visits reported on one particular day last week.</p><p>“So,” Cutler said, “it sounds like it's kind of flying through the school system right now.”</p><p>Meanwhile, Pardee Hospital treated close to two dozen confirmed flu cases as of Thursday, according to a news release, which is high for this time of year. Hospital officials are asking people not to visit patients in the hospital unless they are next of kin or their closest contact, and not to bring teenagers and children.</p><p>Horton said the health department hopes people will take the spread of the virus seriously and protect themselves — and, therefore, others as well — by getting a flu shot. Since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for people to develop peak protective antibody levels, according to the health department, it is essential to be vaccinated as soon as possible.</p><p>“It's even more important now with families getting together over the holidays, and the likelihood of the virus spreading is greater just because of that,” Horton said. “So right now is a great time to get (the vaccine), and we want to emphasize that it's not too late to get the flu shot because the flu season usually peaks in February and it can last as long as May, so you want to be protected.”</p><p>The state health department has reported three flu-related deaths in North Carolina already this season, and the percentage of flu-related doctor's visits statewide continues to trend upward since the flu season began in October.</p><p>According to a news release from the county health department Friday, people at high risk for developing serious flu complications include children younger than 5 years, people 65 years of age and older, pregnant women and people with certain long-term medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions, blood disorders, morbid obesity, kidney and liver disorders, HIV or AIDS and cancer.</p><p>Even unvaccinated people who have already gotten sick from a flu virus can benefit from vaccination since the flu vaccine protects against three different flu viruses, the release states. The Center for Disease Control recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against influenza disease.</p>